Bouquets & Barbs

Citizen Patriot Award to Betty Johnson

November 2, 2013

Betty Johnson of Quinnesec was honored as the recipient of the prestigious Citizen Patriot Award at the fourth annual Military Appreciation Extravaganza.

Johnson entered the Air Force in 1944, and eventually worked at the Pentagon for General Eisenhower. She witnessed the Nuremberg Trials in 1946. When she returned home, she raised five children, and volunteered her time throughout the community.

Bouquet

To the Norway High School Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) for helping to serve dinner and kitchen duties at the Caring House Celebrity Waiters Dinner. YAC members also tied purple ribbons on all of the cars in the school parking lot for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Purple ribbons were also handed out to local businesses.

Barb

From Jayna Huotari of Iron Mountain: To the culprits who vandalized the signs on the platform at the Millie Hill lookout. The specific symbol in the graffiti has been popping up all over town and authorities are trying to determine who is responsible.

Bouquet

To the Longriders Motorcycle Club, whose members donated at total of $1,200 in cash and checks to the Make a Difference Day Children's Christmas Program, sponsored by the Office of Community Corrections. Members also held their annual "Toy Run," and each rider provided two toys to be divided between the Make a Difference Day Children's Christmas Program in Dickinson County and the St. Vincent de Paul program in Florence County.

Barb

Quinnesec-Lake Antoine Road is still not open for truck traffic because conflict between the Michigan Department of Transportation and the road construction contractor. Meanwhile, semi-trucks are being routed through downtown Iron Mountain, creating a potential traffic problem and causing extra wear on Stephenson Avenue. Would somebody take this issue by the horns and fix it?

Bouquet

To Stambaugh Elementary School for being named the 2013 U.P. Recycler of the Year Award, school category. For the last five years, students and staff have been saving waste paper to be recycled through Trico Industries of Kingsford. This practice has become embedded in their school's environmental education program.

Each year on Earth Day, the school's Green Committee has organized a school-wide program to celebrate their recycling efforts. Students have written and performed short plays teaching the value of recycling, conservation, a n d "Green" lifestyle choices.